Panzer IV Ausf H 16 Panzer Division near Termoli 1943
The 16th Panzer Division was a notable German armored division, formed in August 1940 primarily from elements of the 1st Panzer Division.
Formation and Early Actions
- The division was originally formed with the following key units:
- Panzer Regiment 2 (two battalions)
- Rifle Brigade 16, which included Rifle Regiments 64 and 79 (each with two battalions) and Motorcycle Battalion 16
- Aufklärungs Abteilung 16 (Reconnaissance Battalion)
- Artillerie Regiment 16 (Artillery Regiment with three battalions)
- Other divisional units, all numbered 16 (e.g., signal and engineer battalions)
Eastern Front and Stalingrad
After spending time in reserve during the Balkans campaign, the division was sent to fight on the Eastern Front, where it became heavily engaged in the fighting in southern Russia. Alongside the 6th Army and other Panzer Divisions, such as the 14th and 24th Panzer Divisions, the 16th Panzer Division was encircled and destroyed at Stalingrad during the catastrophic defeat of German forces in early 1943.
Reformation and Actions in Italy
The division was reformed in France in March 1943. During the turmoil of Italy’s withdrawal from the Axis in September 1943, the 16th Panzer Division was sent to northern Italy and later moved to Taranto. It was then rushed to Salerno to counter the Allied landings, where it saw heavy fighting in the Naples area.
Return to the Eastern Front
In November 1943, the division returned to the Eastern Front, taking part in German counteroffensives west of Kiev. It suffered substantial losses and withdrew to the Baranow area on the Vistula River near Cracow. In October 1944, the division was re-equipped at Kielce and engaged in the defensive actions against the Soviet offensive from the Baranow bridgehead in January 1945.
Final Campaigns and Surrender
By April 1945, the division had withdrawn to Brno in Czechoslovakia, where it was finally split. Some of its elements surrendered to Soviet forces, while others surrendered to the advancing American troops.
Final Structure (Mid-1944 to 1945)
By the later stages of the war, the division’s structure included:
- Panzer Aufklärungs Abteilung 16 (Armored Reconnaissance Battalion)
- Panzer Regiment 2 (two battalions)
- Panzergrenadier Regiment 64 (two battalions)
- Panzergrenadier Regiment 79 (two battalions)
- Panzer Artillerie Regiment 16 (three battalions)
- Heeres Flak Abteilung 274 (Army Anti-Aircraft Battalion)
- Panzerjäger Abteilung 4 (Anti-Tank Battalion)
- Nachrichten Abteilung 16 (Signals Battalion)
- Panzer Pioneer Battalion 16 (Engineer Battalion)
Tactical Adaptations and Reorganizations
- After its destruction at Stalingrad, the division went through several reorganizations, especially during the reformation period in 1943.
- Notably, in 1944, it was integrated into the XXIV Panzer Corps, and Panzergrenadier Regiment 79 was re-designated as Panzer Fusilier Regiment 79. Some parts of Panzergrenadier Regiment 64 were merged with remnants from other divisions to compensate for losses.
- In early 1945, the division received reinforcements from the newly formed Panzer Division Jüterbog, providing a final boost before the division’s ultimate collapse.
The division’s final battles were part of the desperate and collapsing German defense on the Eastern Front, as it struggled against overwhelming Soviet forces.